The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain High students act as mentors
A group of Lorain High School male juniors took time March 7 to speak with some fifth-grade boys at Garfield Elementary School to encourage them to stay on the right path. “We don’t really have an official group, club or anything like that, this is just something we wanted to do,” said Michael Bodiford, 17, while talking about the impetus behind them going to the elementary school. “We set out to change Lorain’s image. “There is a lot of bad talk about the schools and the state grade, so we wanted to show it’s not as bad.” Michael said the arrangement to go to Garfield Elementary was a very organic process. “We were looking for something to do in the district,” he said. “The principal (Megan Young) here was looking for someone to mentor some fifth graders, so it all came together.” Sivian Noble, 16, said the group imparts some important life lessons to the young students.
“We tell them to behave and work on their grades,” Sivian said. “We get a chance to sit with them one-on-one and listen to what is going on with them. “We tell them to focus on what’s going on with school and their sports and activities.” Sivian said the group also brought some gift bags for the boys. “It’s just some small stuff with the main thing being the pencil we included,” he said. “The pencil was the main theme of the visit. “It represents grades and focusing on the classroom. This is the second time we have visited these guys, and I feel we have been making some good progress with these guys.” Deonte Benejan, 17, said it’s important for the fifth graders to surround themselves with the right people. “Find the right support system,” Deonte said. “If you have any problems in life, whatever you are going through, let it out; you need to have someone you can talk to.” Young said the fifthgrade boys are so excited when their mentors come to visit. “The goal was to provide these boys with some positive male role models,” she said. “The connection has been great between these high school guys and the fifth graders. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but these guys have done a great job. The culmination of things for this year will be for these boys to go to the high school to have lunch with their mentors.” Nancy Lecorchick, director of 11th and 12th grade academies at Lorain High, said the program was very much something the high school students created on their own. “I helped organize the transportation form the High School to Garfield, and I initially helped connect Meghan (Young) with the guys, but it has been mostly them,” Lecorchick said. “It just shows what students will do when you give them something positive to be a part of. “I don’t know where this program will go from here, but these young men have done a great job.”